Job Discussion Forums

En929 · Joined: 22 Feb 2015 Posts: 25

Can having a Master's degree (in ANY subject, but in my case Elementary Education) make a person overqualified for teaching English in some countries? For example, in the USA some places don't hire people with Master's degrees because it's cheaper to hire someone with a Bachelor's degree or some employers might not hire someone with a Master's degree simply because they don't have one, etc.

I know the above sounds like a stupid question, but it IS a reality in some places. So thus, I was wondering what is some of your perspectives on this?

Thanks

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

No. Your degree will be valued solely in contexts where jobs involve teaching kiddies. Otherwise it will simply be overlooked-and wouldn't be grounds for higher pay than a newbie with a BA.

suphanburi · Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 916

There are lots of places in Asia that will ignore your post grad work and (in EFL) start you off the same as any other 22-year-old newbie with a freshly minted BA and a pulse.

The rest of the planet is not like home.

IF on the other hand you actually wanted real teaching work (as compared to entry level EFL jobs) AND you have a few years of classroom experience and a teacher's license then there are lots of options on the international school circuit that will recognize your credentials and give you a decent remuneration package.

ie:
NET in Hong Kong pays around $4000-5000/month (salary + benefits).
Top international schools in Thailand pay $4000 + benefits.
The same with Korea, Japan, Taiwan.

EFL in Korea gets you about $2000 with some benefits (housing + airfare).
EFL at your average school in Thailand pays $1000 with no benefits.
EFL at your average school in China pays $1000 + minimal benefits.

.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

In Japan and Ecuador I have had English teaching jobs at universities and been paid according to my postgraduate qualifications, even though they are not related to English teaching. That is, I was paid the same as someone with equivalent but relevant qualifications. So far I haven't felt like it was a hindrance, but obviously, it does make me somewhat expensive, so it could be an issue one day.

(I do have relevant experience, qualifications etc, which were what got me hired, the other qualifications only came into play when it came to the pay scale).